Babinda Meats owners celebrate 35 years at the helm

A passion for serving their community has been at the forefront of Babinda Meats owners Wendy and Salvatore ‘Tootie’ Nucifora’s success.

Wendy Nucifora, Mark Nucifora and Salvatore 'Tootie' Nucifora of Babinda Meats, have celebrated more than three decades serving the Far North community, including winning first place in the FNQ division of the Sausage King competition. Photo: Catherine Duffy.

A passion for serving their community has been at the forefront of Babinda Meats owners Wendy and Salvatore ‘Tootie’ Nucifora’s success.

The couple, who took over the business from Mr Nucifora’s parents, have celebrated 35 years at the helm.

“Tootie’s been butchering since he finished Year 10, so about 44 years,” Ms Nucifora said.
“And I got sentenced in marriage, so I’ve been here 38 years.”

Mr Nucifora, who began his butcher’s trade at 15, said he was driven by a passion to give his community good quality meats.

“I started and I just enjoyed butchering, cutting beef up, and in saying that too, I wanted to be a good butcher, be professional and have good products and meat lines,” Mr Nucifora said.

“It gave me a passion and I’ve been passionate for it for the last 40 years.”

The couple produce fresh beef from their cattle farm, sourcing other meat products such as chicken and pork from other Queensland farmers.

Wendy Nucifora, Mark Nucifora and Salvatore 'Tootie' Nucifora of Babinda Meats, celebrate more than three decades serving the Far North community, and winning first place in the FNQ division of the Sausage King competition. Photo: Catherine Duffy.

“We have our own cattle, so we try to put as much of that through the shop as we can and if we can’t get that, we buy off local farmers around the Tablelands and (Babinda),” Ms Nucifora said.

“But it’s all Australian and that’s important to us, to keep it in our country.”

Since taking over the business in 1989, the couple have expanded their product line to include small goods, such as deli meats, kranskys, and ready-made meals, including soup, lasagne, pasta sauce, pies, pizzas and cannelloni.

Adding to their accolades, the business recently won the FNQ division of this year’s Sausage King contest.

“When we submitted our sausages, we didn’t just go oh we’re gonna make these for the competition, whatever we make, that’s what we’re gonna put in,” Mr Nucifora said.
“And we came back with first, so whatever you buy, that’s exactly what we sent out to get.”

The business, which has undergone a rebrand with the help of the couple’s children, has been a labour of love since the beginning.

“When we were dating, I used to live in Deeral, and I’d drive home from work in Cairns, have dinner and drive down to help Tootie tie the sausages because he was always working late,” Ms Nucifora said.

Mr Nucifora credited Wendy with the success of the business.

“We wouldn’t be where we are today without her,” he said.

Originally published as Babinda Meats owners celebrate 35 years at the helm